Pearl Elizabeth Cohen
Pearl Elizabeth Cohen, 95, of Winston-Salem died August 25 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born March 5, 1908, in Lewisville to the late Abraham Grant and Maggie Pfaff Clayton. She had been a registered nurse in New York City, N.Y., before moving to Connecticut to raise her family. She was the founder of the Paint & Pallette Club in Willimantic, Conn., and a talented artist. She was a former Connecticut State Target Archery Champion. She was an early member of The Cricket’s Nest in Winston-Salem, and she and her husband, Bernard, were longtime members of the Miller Park Ballroom Dance Club. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Nellie Dorsett and Viola Sides; and her brothers, Albert “Ab” Clayton and Lester Clayton.
Surviving are her husband, Bernard Cohen of the home; a son, Charles Cohen and wife Jane; three grandchildren, Barbara J. and Joshua C. Cohen and Miriam V. Burch and husband Brian; two great-granddaughters, Sydney and Sigourney Burch; a sister, Lois Dorsett; a niece, Donna Long; and a nephew, D.C. “Boone” Sides and wife Mary.
A memorial service was held at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.

Belle Staley Willard
Belle Staley Willard, 93, died January 5 at Meadowbrook Manor of Clemmons. She was born October 17, 1910, in Wilkes County to General H. and Sally Seagraves Staley. She retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. after 42 years of service and was a member of Bethlehem United Church of Christ.
Surviving are her husband, James David Willard of the home; a son, Orville Gray Brown and wife Mary of Houston, Texas; a sister, “Tommye” Montgomery, and a brother, Arnold Staley, both of Winston-Salem; two brothers-in-law, John Lewis Willard and Sam Black, both of Winston-Salem; eight grandchildren, Ken and wife Evelyn, Jim and wife Karen, Linda and Gary Poindexter, Sharon Martin, David and Bobby Brown and Teresa Jarvis; 12 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; a niece and a nephew.
Funeral services were held at Bethlehem United Church of Christ with Rev. Aaron Long officiating, and burial followed in the church cemetery.

Rev. Louis Llewellyn McGee
Rev. Louis Llewellyn McGee, 78, of Clemmons died January 8 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. He was born in Petersburg, Va., to Norma Llewellyn McGee and Louis Maitland McGee. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond and during this time he was mentored by his pastor, Dr. Theodore F. Adams, at the First Baptist Church in Richmond. He was the drummer and leader of the University of Richmond Swing Band. While serving as a student pastor in Warsaw, Va., he met his future bride, Mary Lou Wilson. Rev. McGee was called into the ministry and ordained in 1949 and earned his bachelor of divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with graduate studies in the psychology of religion. During his four years as pastor of the Holland Baptist Church in Holland, Va., the church grew and a new educational building was constructed. Then as pastor of Glebe Baptist Church in Arlington, Va., Rev. McGee served an especially loving congregation that grew rapidly. After attending a School of Pastoral Care training program at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, he decided to further his education and enrolled in the Institute of Religion at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. While working as a chaplain at Memorial Baptist Hospital in Houston, he completed his studies at the institute and received his certification as a chaplain supervisor. During this time he also attended the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned his master of theology degree with a dissertation of “Pastoral Care of the Suicidal.” He served as the first secretary for Hospital Chaplaincy at the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for three years, traveling throughout the country. In 1991 he retired after 27 years as a director and chaplain supervisor in the Division of Clinical Pastoral Education, Dept. of Pastoral Care, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. He was a diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, a chaplain supervisor of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), a fellow of the College of Chaplains and a certified marital and family therapist. He received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Award of the ACPE and the title “Chaplain Emeritus” from the College of Chaplains. His many publications included articles on suicide prevention, marriage and family counseling, stress management and conflict resolution. Rev. McGee was a member of Knollwood Baptist Church. He enjoyed many sports, especially fishing, and was proud to be the first president of the Clemmons Cowboy Midget Football League. During his later years, he enjoyed playing drums with the Dixie Dawgs jazz band.
Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Mary Lou McGee; his children, Mary Llewellyn McGee, Lesley Hope McGee Harris and husband Tim and John Wilson McGee and wife Ginger; and his grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth McGee and Matthew Bryan McGee.
Funeral services were held at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel in Advance, and a private burial service was held at Westlawn Gardens of Memory.

Clair Westmoreland Belton
Clair Westmoreland Belton, 69, of Hampton, Va. died January 6 at the Sentara Careplex Hospital in Hampton. She lived with her sister, Vivian, in Hampton and was a former member of Parkland Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
Surviving are a son, Jerry William Belton Jr. and wife Carolyn of Mocksville; two daughters, Linda Belton Caudill and husband Mark of Clemmons and Lisa Denise Belton; three grandchildren, Kevin Lee Belton, Matthew Scott Caudill and Sydney Nicole Caudill; a sister, Vivian Westmoreland Sechrist; three sisters-in-law, Ivalene Westmoreland, Peggy Fleming and Bonnie Thornton; a brother-in-law, Dewey Belton; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held at Grace Moravian Church in Mount Airy with Pastor Stewart Antonio Belton officiating, and burial followed at the Oakdale Cemetery.

James Robert Darsey
James Robert “Bob” Darsey, 76, of Winston-Salem died January 7 at the home of his daughter. He was born February 6, 1927, in Pickens, S.C., to James Dowman and Juanita Hames Darsey. He retired from Western Electric Co. with 30 years of service. He was an associate member of Calvary Moravian Church and a member of Union Hill Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gretchen Darsey.
Surviving are a daughter, Nita Cheek and husband David of Clemmons; a son, Joseph Darsey and wife Lynn of Seven Lakes; five grandchildren, Jenna Darsey, Brooks Driver, Darsey Driver, Caleb Driver and Evan Driver; two brothers, John Darsey of Decatur, Ala., and Joseph Darsey of Alabama; and a sister, Mary Lou Poplin of Huntsville, Ala.
Funeral services were held at Union Hill Baptist Church in Clemmons with Rev. David Sowers and Rev. Lane Sapp officiating and special remembrances by a dear friend, Steve Hallyburton. Burial followed in God’s Acre in Old Salem.

Lester C. Holcomb Sr.
Lester C. “Doc” Holcomb Sr., 84, of Elkin died January 7 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born May 13, 1919, in Yadkin County to Grover Cleveland and Bessie Holcomb Holcomb. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the foreign conflict as a dental technician. He was a member of Calvary Wesleyan Church, where he was very active serving as head greeter for many years. He was a devoted father and husband and was known for his smile, quick wit and encouraging attitude. He was a semi-pro baseball player and an avid fan. He was retired from Chatham Manufacturing Co. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence Loraine Gibson Holcomb; a daughter, Sandra List; two brothers, Woodrow Holcomb and Jimmy Pardue; a sister, Edith Holcomb; and his stepfather, W.T. Pardue.
Surviving are his wife, Chloe Byrd Holcomb of the home; two sons, Lester C. Holcomb Jr., who is the associate pastor of Agape Faith Church in Clemmons, and wife Daris, and Larry D. Johnson and wife Birdie of Elkin; two daughters, Bettye Perkins and husband Jake of Atoka, Tenn., and Beverly Eastep and husband Glen of Crystal Woods, Ill.; a son-in-law, Edwin List of Lakeland, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Calvary Wesleyan Church with Rev. Jesse Garmon and Rev. Lester C. Holcomb Jr. officiating, and burial followed at Sunrise Cemetery.

Allene McDaniel Switzer
Allene McDaniel Switzer, 88, of Wilkesboro died January 7 at Britthaven. She was born in Pickens, S.C., on December 8, 1915, to James Henry Grace and Margaret Grace Hendricks McDaniel. She was a member of Wilkesboro Baptist Church. She began her teaching career in Liberty, S.C., until her marriage to James Edward Switzer Sr. She taught in Biscoe until 1946. She returned to teaching at Wilkesboro Elementary School in 1952 until her retirement in 1982. Her love of teaching was apparent to all who knew her. She was preceded in death by a brother, James McDaniel, and a sister, Edith M. Alward.
Surviving are her husband; a daughter, Margaret S. Rogers of Lewisville; a son, James Edward Switzer Jr. of Carlsbad, Calif.; four sisters, Elizabeth Brice and husband S.M. Brice Sr. of Blackstock, S.C., Margaret Parshall and husband Dale of Naples, Fla.,Genieve Dukes and husband G.W. Dukes Jr. of Branchville, S.C., and Shirley Shannon and husband E.M. of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren, Heidi S. Smith and Meredith S. Bock, both of Santa Barbara, Calif., J.E. Switzer III of Carlsbad, Calif., Melissa R. Richardson of Clemmons and Robert Andrew Rogers of Matthews; five great-grandchildren; and her special caregivers, Norma Hamby, JoAnn Trivette, Kathy Spears, Levirn Shoffner, Rebecca Elmore and Nancy Long.
Funeral services were held at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Ken Pardue and Rev. Clifford Johnson officiating, and burial followed in Scenic Memorial Gardens.

Ford Stone
Ford Stone, 84, of Ronda died January 5 at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. He was born June 7, 1919, in Wilkes County to Reevesenoch Stone and Josephine Day Stone. A dedicated evangelist in the Ronda community for several decades, he was a founding member of Wilkes Faith Temple in Ronda in 1960. He was a machinist with Briggs-Shaffner Company in Winston-Salem for 34 years, retiring in 1982 to focus full-time on prison and nursing home ministries he began years earlier. He was also an avid musician and gardener. A U.S. Army staff sergeant, he served in the Philippines during World War II.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the Rev. Arlene Stone of the home, retired pastor of Wilkes Faith Temple in Ronda; a daughter, Rosalene Shaffner and husband David of Ronda; and three sons, Benny Stone and wife Patsy of Clemmons, Larry Stone and wife Lynn of Winston-Salem, both owner/operators of Clemmons Center Barber Shop, and Sam Stone and wife Terri, of Winston-Salem; nine grandchildren, Angela Shaffner Zabor and husband Marcin of Wilmington, Nicholas and Jonathan Shaffner, both of Ronda, Jason, Rachel and Gabrielle Stone, all of Winston-Salem, David Stone and wife Christin of Shelby, Lara Stone Ross of Clemmons and Julie Stone of Charlotte; and one great-grandchild, William Ross of Clemmons.
Funeral services were held at Wilkes Faith Temple with Rev. Russell Gibson officiating, and burial followed in the church cemetery.

Ethel Rhoda Calloway Hemric
Ethel Rhoda Calloway Hemric, 96, of Hamptonville died January 10 at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center. She was born March 26, 1907, in Caswell County to Samuel Wilson and Elizabeth Seagraves Calloway. She was a homemaker and a member of Swaims Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry Jackson Hemric; a son, Samuel Jackson Hemric; a son-in-law, Ted Settle; three sisters, Nanie Pinnix, Ruby Shore and Hazel Stokes; and three brothers, Raymond, Duried and Coy Calloway.
Surviving are four children, Donald Hemric and wife Kathy of Hamptonville, Gilbert Hemric and wife Caroline of Hamptonville, Lorene Settle of Elkin and Vonda Blackburn and husband Jack Gallimore of Lewisville; six grandchildren, Dean Settle, George Blackburn, Sammi Stone, Cindy, Amber and Van Hemric; six great-grandchildren, George Bryant Blackburn, Samuel and Henry Stone, Ashton, Colton and Mallorie Hemric; many other beloved family members; and a host of cherished friends.
A funeral service was at Swaims Baptist Church with Rev. Craig Waldie and Rev. Randy Johnson officiating, and burial followed in the church cemetery.

Sarah Louisa Shermer Todd
Sarah Louisa Shermer Todd, 94, of Yadkinville died January 7 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. She was born January 23, 1909, in Yadkin County to the late Daniel Edward and Sarah Jane Shore Shermer. Her entire life was spent as a homemaker and mother to her eight children. She was a charter member of Maplewood Baptist Church in 1992. Previously, she was an active member of Yadkinville Baptist Church, serving in many capacities, including president of the Women’s Missionary Union and principal of Vacation Bible School. As a member of Yadkin Chapter No. 233 Order of the Eastern Star, she served as worthy matron. She volunteered for several years at the information desk at Lula Conrad Hoots Memorial Hospital in Yadkinville. She was married in 1929 to William Dossy Todd, who preceded her in death on January 8, 1980. Also preceding her in death were her sisters, Gladys Shermer Todd, Elva Shermer Hoots and Inez Shermer Colvard; her brothers, Page Edward Shermer and Simon Stanley Shermer; and a grandson, Randal Gray Hall.
Surviving are her children, Lou Hutchens and husband Paul, Peggy Spillman, Nellie Hall and husband Garlon, Frieda Pepper and husband Fred, Gloria Long and husband Benny, William D. Todd Jr. and wife Lisa, all of Yadkinville, Norma Johnson and husband Ronald of Clemmons, and Dr. Sandra Gianini and husband Paul of Daytona Beach, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Maplewood Baptist Church in Yadkinville with Rev. Richard Eskew and Rev. Jimmy Hinson officiating. A graveside service was held in Yadkin Memorial Gardens East with Dr. Henry May officiating.

Walter Clifton Sapp Jr.
Walter Clifton Sapp Jr., 73, of Winston-Salem died January 8 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born March 3, 1930, in Forsyth County to Walter Clifton and Myrtle Aldridge Sapp. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Korean conflict and retired from Western Electric in 1981 after 31 years of service. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Peggy Biles and Betty Boyd.
Surviving are his wife, Bettye Jo Lawson Sapp of the residence; his mother, Myrtle Aldridge Sapp of Winston-Salem; two daughters, Cynthia James and husband Johnny of Clemmons and Deborah Sue Holt and husband Keith of Winston-Salem; three sons, Reginald Chris Sapp and wife Betty of Bethania, Walter Anthony Sapp of Winston-Salem and Bruce Lawson Sapp and wife Ginger of East Bend; a sister, Shirley Hay and husband Jim of Winston-Salem; a brother, Joe M. Sapp and wife Earlene of Advance; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the First United Church of Christ with Rev. Nelson Weller and Rev. Don Farrow officiating, and burial followed at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens with graveside rites by Rev. Elizabeth Parker.

Donna Lynn Holcomb
Donna Lynn Holcomb, 46, of Wintson-Salem died January 10 at Forsyth Medical Center. She was born July 31, 1957, in Mecklenberg County to Paul Grey Holcomb Sr. and Reba Bradshaw Holcomb. She attended Forsyth Technical Community College.
Surviving are a son, Kalen Dane Holcomb of the home; her mother, Reba B. Holcomb; her father, Paul G. Holcomb Sr.; two sisters, Paula Rosenberg and husband Ron of Clemmons and Wanda Holton and husband Wayne of Winston-Salem; two brothers, P. Grey Holcomb Jr. and wife Susan of Lexington and Keith A. Holcomb of Winston-Salem; and several nieces.
A memorial service was held at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Pastor Michael Gates and Pastor Albert Smith officiating.

Thelma Russell Jones
Thelma Russell Jones, 93, died January 25 at Meadowbrook Manor of Clemmons. She was born February 19, 1910, in Forsyth County to Charlie Gray and Mamie Bovender Russell. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church and was retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Jones Sr.; and two sons, J.R. and Russell T. Jones.
Surviving are a son, Bobby Gray Jones and wife Wanda; four granddaughters, Debbie Lawing, Robin Jones, Lynne Harpe and husband Chipper, and Renee Hunter and husband Rick; three grandsons, Russell T. Jones and wife LaNeta, Dwain G. Jones and wife Kathy, and Shannon B. Jones; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Virginia Jones; a brother, Bill Russell and wife Carol; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Rev. Barry Nelson officiating, and burial followed in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.

Arthur William Spaugh Jr.
Arthur William Spaugh Jr., 82, of Winston-Salem died January 27 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born January 10, 1922, in Forsyth County to the late Arthur William and Connie Scott Spaugh. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church and the VFW in Clemmons. He retired from McLean Trucking Co. with 32 years of service and was a member of the 391 Teamsters Union. He loved to golf and bowl in his spare time. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois Spaugh.
Surviving are his wife, Donna of the home; a son, Timothy Eugene Spaugh and wife Janie of Newton; a daughter, Patricia Spaugh Cain and husband Larry of Winston-Salem; three stepdaughters, Vickie Underwood of Winston-Salem, Shirley Fore and husband Richard of Clemmons and Deborah Barker and husband Bill of Pittsburgh, Pa.; two grandsons, Bradley Cain and wife Rita and Brett Cain; six stepgrandchildren, Tracey Decker and husband Jeff, Steven Underwood and wife Angie, Maria Stimson and husband Daren, Rick Fore and wife Amy, and Sarah Fore and Frankie Speagle; six stepgreat-grandchildren, Tyler Decker, Nick and Hannah Fore, Cody and Kaitlyn Stimson and Kirk Decker; a brother, Lloyd Spaugh and wife Joann of Lexington; two sisters, Marie Sink and husband Clinton and Faye Weavil and husband Herbert, all of Winston-Salem; and a brother-in-law, Thomas Sink of Winston-Salem.
Funeral services were held at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Rev. Mike Duffield and Rev. Jimmy Clodfelter officiating, and burial followed at Westlawn Gardens of Memory.

Thelma M axine Parham Neal
Thelma Maxine Parham Neal, 75, of Belews Creek died January 25 at her home. She was born November 14, 1928, in Forsyth County to James Elwood and Martha Goode Parham. She was a faithful member of Belews Creek United Church of Christ, where she was active in the choir, Adult Sunday school class and Women’s Fellowship. She was also a member of the Belews Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Ladies Auxiliary. She retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1995. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Conrad S. Parham Sr.; a sister, Jeanette Spaugh; a son-in-law, Raeford M. Smith; and two brothers-in-law, Hassell Boyles and Gorrell Crews.
Surviving are her husband of 53 1/2 years, Don Reid Neal; a daughter, Kathy N. Smith; a grandson, Brian Raeford Smith; three brothers, Richard “Sambo” Parham and wife Wanda and Harold Parham and wife Sylvia, all of Belews Creek, and Alvin Parham and wife Shelby of Clemmons; three sisters, Rachel Boyles of King, Virginia Crews of Kernersville and Mary Alice Boles and husband Bob of Jamestown; a sister-in-law, Gerry Parham of Belews Creek; and a brother-in-law, Donald Spaugh of Clemmons.
Funeral services were held at Belews Creek United Church of Christ with Pastor Larry Neal and longtime friend Rev. Herb Mabe officiating, and burial followed in the Neal Family Cemetery.

Edythe Brawley Woody
Edythe Brawley Woody, 83, of Winston-Salem died January 25 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born January 22, 1921, in Iredell County to the Rev. Samuel Jason and Bernice Cooke Brawley. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Louise Gunter and Dorothy Cummings; her husband, Roger Woody; and a brother, Frank Brawley.
Surviving are two sons, Michael Reavis and wife Martha of Statesville and Ronald Reavis of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a stepdaughter, Robin Barefoot of Lewisville; five grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; three brothers, William Brawley, Bob Brawley and Jim Brawley, all of Yadkinville; and five sisters, Mildred Hoots and Peggy Joyner, both of Winston-Salem, Betty Agresta of Burlington and Fanny Sizemore and Patsy Martin, both of Yadkinville.
Funeral services were held at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. Gary Chapman and Rev. William Brawley officiating, and burial followed in Center United Methodist Church Cemetery in Yadkinville.

Marie Testerment Frye
Marie Testerment Frye, 72, of Advance died January 29 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. She was born in Smyth County, Va., to Jesse and Margaret Testerment.
Surviving are a sister-in-law, Katherine Frye of Advance; and four nieces, Denise Boger of Clemmons, Amy Taylor and Ann Anderson, both of Virginia, and Lisa Hayes and husband Charles of Advance.
Funeral services were held in the Mausoleum Chapel at Westlawn Gardens of Memory with Pastor Ronnie Craddock officiating.

Janet Marshall Blair
Janet Marshall Blair, 53, of Asheboro died January 28 at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro. She was employed at the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro.
Surviving are her mother, Geri Evans of Yadkinville; her father and stepmother, Bill and Fay Blair of Winston-Salem; a younger sister and brother-in-law, Byron “Hotshot” and Terry Gaither of Winston-Salem; a younger brother, Mike Blair and wife Sheila of Lewisville; a stepbrother, Ron McGuire of Lewisville; a stepsister, Jan Russell of Winston-Salem; a daughter, Michelle Cole and husband Allen, and a grandson, Dustin Cole, all of Hillsborough; a fiance, Robert deFriess of Asheboro; and a mother-in-law-to-be, Linda deFriess.
Funeral services were held in Walker’s Funeral Home, followed by a graveside ceremony at Hillsborough Town Cemetery.

Esther Pauline Anderson
Esther Pauline Anderson, 96, of Winston-Salem died January 28. She was born March 4, 1907. She was recently a resident of Creekside Terrace Retirement Community in Winston-Salem and loved living there with her many new friends. Most of her life was spent in Waltham and Everett, Mass. She was preceded in death by her husband, Folke; her parents, Anna and Gustaf Anderson; her seven sisters and brothers; and many old friends.
Surviving are two daughters, Marcia Cox and husband Bob of Clemmons, with whom she spent her last days, and a daughter, Cindy Harris and husband David of Normandy Beach, N.J.; her grandchildren, Jane Harris Brinkmann of Morristown, N.J., David Harris of Pennsylvania and Gregory Anderson Cox and Christopher Alexander Cox of Winston-Salem; and seven great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held in the springtime, when her entire family can be in attendance, at First Lutheran Church, Waltham, Mass.